Admirals Set for Hall of Fame and Alumni Weekend

NORFOLK, VA – On the ice, the Admirals will look to continue building momentum this week following two big road victories this past weekend. Off the ice, the Admirals will continue to celebrate their twentieth anniversary season with the Admirals Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday and the Admirals Alumni Game on Saturday.

The Admirals will continue a stretch of seven games in nine days this week. Tuesday night, the Admirals and Sound Tigers will square off once again in Bridgeport. Wednesday night, Norfolk travels to Binghamton to face the Senators for the first time this season. The Admirals and Senators will then head south to meet once again on Friday and Saturday nights at Scope.

EAST DIVISION STANDINGSAt 21-25-2-5 (47 points), the Admirals are in seventh place in the East Division. The division is led by the Hershey Bears (35-16-0-4, 74 points). They are followed by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (35-16-1-2, 73 points), Bridgeport Sound Tigers (30-17-3-3, 66 points), Binghamton Senators (28-18-5-3, 64 points), Philadelphia Phantoms (29-23-1-1, 60 points) and Albany River Rats (24-24-3-2, 53 points). Click here for the complete, up-to-the-minute AHL standings.

The Admirals will meet Binghamton for the first three games of an eight-game season series on Wednesday in New York and on Friday and Saturday in Virginia.

Norfolk recorded its first back-to-back road victories of the season on Saturday in Hershey and Sunday in Bridgeport.

With its win against the Sound Tigers, Norfolk leveled its season record against its East Division foes at 12-12-1-2.

The Admirals 2-1 shootout victory in Bridgeport on Sunday was just the team’s second shootout win in seven tries this season.

The Admirals’ two road victories were both of the come-from-behind variety, as the team recorded its first two wins in 12 games on the road this season when trailing after one period.

In his first six career AHL appearances, Riku Helenius has a 2.12 goals-against average and .940 save percentage.

With three goals last week, Brandon Segal has established a personal AHL career high with 34 points this season. His previous high of 33 points came in 2005-06 with the Milwaukee Admirals. Segal is four goals shy of his AHL career-high 20-goal total in 2006-07 with Milwaukee.

Segal now has points in six of his last ten games (4G, 3A).

Norfolk became just the second visiting team to post multiple wins over Bridgeport at the Arena at Harbor Yard this season (Binghamton). The Admirals are now 2-0-0-0 in Bridgeport this season.

With 46 stops on Saturday in Hershey, Craig Kowalski made the most saves of any goaltender making his Norfolk debut. Kowalski was signed to a Professional Tryout Contract on Friday night.

On Saturday in Hershey, the Admirals scored multiple power play goals for the first time since January 9 vs. Manchester (a span of 12 games).

Norfolk’s last win against Hershey prior to Saturday night came on January 23, 2008 – a 3-2 shootout victory at Giant Center.

After being shut out in their previous two games, Norfolk’s scoreless streak ended at 175:46 with Segal’s first goal of the game in the second period on Saturday in Hershey.

Norfolk was shut out by Hamilton’s Marc Denis on Friday despite 45 shots on goal – the third-most Norfolk shots without a goal in a game in AHL Admirals history. The record is 50 shots, which occurred twice (12/26/04 at Hershey by Peter Budaj and 3/19/03 at Manchester by Travis Scott).

ADMIRALS RBK/AHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEEBrandon Segal: 3 GP, 3G, 0A, 3PTS, 6PIM Alternate captain Brandon Segal registered three critical goals to lead Norfolk to a pair of road victories last weekend. In the second period on Saturday in Hershey, Segal opened scoring for the Admirals as they eventually erased a three-goal deficit against the Bears. He would score the game-winner late in the third period as Norfolk defeated Hershey 5-4. Sunday in Bridgeport, Segal tied the game at 1-1 in the second period and then clinched the victory with a shootout conversion in a 2-1 Admirals win over the Sound Tigers.

With his three goals, Segal established a new personal AHL career high with 34 points this season, eclipsing his previous career high of 33 points set in 2005-06 with the Milwaukee Admirals. Segal, who has 16 goals to go along with 18 assists, is just four goals of tying his AHL career high of 20 goals set in 2006-07 with Milwaukee. He currently is tied for second in goals and is third in scoring with Norfolk.

Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony – Mark Bernard and Victor Gervais will become the fifth and sixth members of the Admirals Hall of Fame, presented by the Virginian-Pilot, in a pre-game ceremony.

Saturday, February 21 (vs. Binghamton Senators)

Admirals Alumni Game – Watch the legends of Admirals past skate on the Scope ice again as Team Blue takes on Team White in the Admirals Alumni Game. The puck drops at 3:00 p.m. with gates opening at 2:00 p.m. You must have a ticket to the Admirals’ game against the Binghamton Senators for that night in order to attend the Alumni Game. There will be a meet and greet with Alumni Game Players following the game.

PARKING AVAILABLE AT RADISSON HOTELA significant amount of parking spaces (based on availability) are available for Admirals games this season at the Norfolk Radisson Hotel. Parking spots will be opened to Admirals fans for $5 per game. The Norfolk Radisson Hotel is located immediately across Brambleton Avenue from Norfolk Scope Arena. Fans who would like to take advantage of this opportunity are asked to enter the Brambleton Avenue parking entrance. A sign will be posted at that entrance.

Please note that there are events at Chrysler Hall Friday and Saturday nights occurring simultaneously as the Admirals’ games against Binghamton. This will likely lead to increased parking congestion.

THIS WEEK ON THE ADMIRALS HOURTune in for a special Alumni edition of the Admirals Hour on Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1310 WGH-AM. “The Voice of the Admirals” Pete Michaud will be joined in the studio by Admirals founder and Hall of Fame member Blake Cullen, Hall of Fame member “Rocket” Rod Taylor and Admirals Corporate Sales Manager Dennis “The Original Admiral” McEwen. If you have a question for the show, please call (757) 497-1310 during the show or email keith@norfolkadmirals.com prior to 2:00 on Thursday afternoon.

ADMIRALS STREAKS AND TRENDS

Brandon Segal, Goals/Points in back-to-back games (3G, 0A since 02/14 at HER)

Marc Denis makes 48 saves, the most by a Norfolk goalie at home in the team’s AHL history, to lead the Admirals to a 4-2 victory over the Worcester Sharks. Kyle Wanvig nets a ‘Gordie Howe hat Trick’ while Blair Jones, Jay Rosehill and Paul Szczechura also score for the Admirals. Norfolk is out-shot 50-21.

February 18, 1994 … Admirals 11 vs. Louisville IceHawks 1

The Admirals score the second largest victory in regular season club history, pounding the Louisville IceHawks 11-1. The ten-goal margin of victory has been bettered only once in an 11-0 whipping of Richmond on November 10, 1992. Rod Taylor tickles the twine four times, while Andrew Brunette chalks up a hat trick as part of a five-point night. The Admirals outshoot Louisville 58-30.

February 18, 2005 … Admirals 6 vs. Hershey Bears 1

Duncan Keith nets a hat trick as the Admirals hammer the Hershey Bears 6-1. Jason Morgan, Jim Vandermeer and Eric Nickulas also score for Norfolk. Keith becomes the first blueliner in the Admirals’ AHL history to bag a hat trick. Matt Keith adds two assists and Michael Leighton makes 26 saves.

February 19, 2000 … Admirals 7 at Toledo Storm 2

The Admirals explode for four goals in the second period in a 7-2 win over the Storm at the Toledo Sports Arena. With two goals, Rod Taylor hits the 30-goal plateau for the seventh time in his Admirals’ career. Louis Bedard also scores twice while Rick Kowalsky, Mike Siklenka and Ryan Gillis also score for the Blue & Gold.

TICKETSTo purchase tickets to any Admirals game, you may visit the Scope Box Office weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., visit any Ticketmaster outlet, call Ticketmaster at (757) 671-8100 or visit Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com. Don’t miss a minute of the action by purchasing your 2009-10 season tickets today. Season tickets start at just $42 per month! Stop by the Admirals’ Administrative Offices at Scope, call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or visit norfolkadmirals.com anytime!

ON THE RADIO/INTERNETAll games are broadcast on ESPN Radio 1310 WGH-AM. The games are also cybercast at SportsJuice.com. Go to SportsJuice.com, or click on the link at norfolkadmirals.com. Broadcasts begin 15 minutes prior to game time.

Games are also viewable through the Internet on a pay-per-view basis through AHL Live. Visit norfolkadmirals.com and click the AHL Live banner on the left side of the site to view all Admirals’ home and away games.